Newark man wanted on drug, burglary charges is arrested in Bloomfield

BLOOMFIELD -- A motor-vehicle stop in Bloomfield led to the arrest of a 29-year-old Newark man wanted by Morris County law enforcement officials for multiple drug offenses, authorities said.

Charles Malone was arrested this morning in connection with several narcotics crimes, burglary and resisting arrest after he allegedly tried to run from an Essex County sheriff’s officer near Watessing Park, Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.

Officer Daniel Graffeo stopped Malone’s 2002 Ford Taurus when he noticed it had an expired inspection sticker, according to Fontoura, but when the driver failed to provide a valid driver’s license, the officer conducted a criminal background check.

Malone was apparently wanted by the Essex County Sheriff’s Office for violating the terms of his probation and Morris County authorities for drug offenses, Fontoura said. The driver allegedly fled the scene while Graffeo was conducting the records check.

The suspect threw a sweatshirt to the ground as he jumped over several fences and ran through backyards to evade the initial pursuit, Fontoura said. A K-9 unit was dispatched to the scene, and officers were led to a Maolis street address, where Malone was allegedly found hiding under the basement stairs.

Investigators said they found three bags of marijuana and 25 ecstasy pills inside Malone’s discarded sweatshirt.

Google MapsA map view of Watessing Park, near where Charles Malone, 29, of Newark, allegedly tried to run from an Essex County sheriff’s officer.